Any PreRunner / 2wd on this board?

[The Swiss]

Any Tacoma PreRunners on this board? Regret not having 4x4? How many times would you have been better off with it, how many times did you have to stay out of a area or trail because you did not wanted to risk it without 4x4? How much does the locking rear diff in the TRD makes up for lacking 4x4?

Here in the SouthEast, the choice of PreRunners is a lot bigger than the 4x4 and honestly, the two times I put my vehicle in 4x4 low in the last 2 years, I actually did it because I wanted the low speed and added control of the low box, not because of the fourwheeldirve.

Just wondering...

 

[crolison]

The locker makes up a tad for not having 4x4, but 4x4 makes it alot easier to do stuff. For where you would have to hi rev your prerunner to get through, you can just cruise through in 4x4. You also don't have lo gear with prerunner which makes everything alot easier.

You can always convert a prerunner to 4x4 pretty easily.

All you need is, transmission, tcase, spindles, hubs, front diff, driveshafts, and cv's.

One of my friends just converted his dcab taco from 4x2 to 4x4.

 

[pray4surf]

I 'used' to have a prerunner

Well, it's still a prerunner as it doesn't have the front driveshaft and I still need to finish some electrical wiring, modify the tcase shifter...

Crolison is right about converting the trucks, but this 'pretty easily' may not always be the case... mine hasn't been... I want to add, the conversion has only been done (IME) on the pre-2005 models. Mine's a 98...

If you think you'll ever need 4x4, then by all means purchase a 4x4. No one that I know ever looked back and said, "I should have bought a prerunner".

But, if your requirements for a vehicle do not require 4 wheel drive, then you can save a few thousand buying a prerunner. In their stock form (especially with the rear locker) the prerunner is a dependable, stout truck will surprise you.

Rick

 

[The Swiss]

I 'used' to have a prerunner

If you think you'll ever need 4x4, then by all means purchase a 4x4. No one that I know ever looked back and said, "I should have bought a prerunner".
Rick

True, true, true. Question is, how much you really need 4x4. Generations of Globetrotters traversed Africa and South America in the original VW Westy with a whopping 60 something horses and rear wheel drive. I am sure 4x4 would have been coming in handy on occasion, but they made it without.

I'm getting too philosophical here; thanks for y'alls imput.

 

[SAR_Squid79]

I, too, am a FORMER PreRunner. I converted my 2WD to 4WD last year. I surprised a lot of people with how far I could take my 2WD. I had the rear locker - which helps A TON! The rear locker easily doubles your 2WD capability. But as long as you're smart, you're a conservative and skilled driver, and have adequate recovery gear, and recovery knowlege, you can go far. Make sure your brakes and e-brake are good.

A word of advice - 2WD (locked or not) HATES MUD!

 

[Digger Dave]

I have 2002 Prerunner with a Detriot Locker in the rear, 3" lift and sliders. I have amazed quite a few people with I take it, but knowing the limits of your skills and your trucks capabilities is key.

Every so often I get a little help from folks, but over all I'm impressed with the Prerunner.

 

[Hltoppr]

I've found that for expedition travel, I need gearing far more than 4wd....which usually means a transfer case with low range; and 4wd.

I think the prerunners are excellent platforms, where you likely won't be in snow and ice, and would easily do a RTW trip.

-H-

 

[SOAZ]

True, true, true. Question is, how much you really need 4x4. Generations of Globetrotters traversed Africa and South America in the original VW Westy with a whopping 60 something horses and rear wheel drive. I am sure 4x4 would have been coming in handy on occasion, but they made it without.

I'm getting too philosophical here; thanks for y'alls imput.

I had one and never missed 4wd. You find a way to make it work.
I could travel anywhere I wanted in 2wd. I mostly wanted to travel and see things and go fast etc. It worked for where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. I look back at some EPIC hills in Baja on the race courses that took hours and digging to get up. I think my current 4runner would go up just fine, but at the time it was fun!
Once I got out to a more mountainous terrain like AZ, CO, UT, I first needed it. Once I got it I loved it. I still go most places in 2wd, but I'd say at least twice a month there is a trail I go on that you absolutely would need 4wd.
I started to realize the more preserved historical things are the ones most difficult to get to. (or ones that have a fence and a fee to go see, which is not interesting or adventurous to me)
:safari-rig:
I'm a fan of 4wd now. I'd get another 2wd for the deserts again. Just like the old westy's you can make anything work. :sombrero:

 

[Cackalak Han]

2 pennies.

I don't know about you guys, but we got/get hammered with snow around here every winter. When I go up skiing in the canyons, and on some streets, there is no way you will make it up in 2WD, unless you've got chains. And even then, it's sketchy (been there, done that). 4WD trounces through it with little effort. I will never go back to a 2WD.

And, I don't use 4WD that often, either. However, it's there when I need it. And when I need it, I NEED IT!!! I have the same philosophy about snow tires on cars. I'd say 95% of the time, you don't need it during the winter time. But the 5% of the days that you have it and it's pounding snow outside, man, I sure am glad. Remember, just because you have it, doesn't mean it has to get used all the time or it's just extra weight and maintenance. It pays for itself a million times over when times comes that you actually do need it.

 

[The Swiss]

I've found that for expedition travel, I need gearing far more than 4wd....which usually means a transfer case with low range; and 4wd.
-H-

I agree, as in my first post, most time I go in 4x4 low is for the low gearing, not the traction.

That IS impressive. Any problem with the tranny overheating without the low range?

2 pennies.

I don't know about you guys, but we got/get hammered with snow around here every winter. When I go up skiing in the canyons, and on some streets, there is no way you will make it up in 2WD, unless you've got chains. And even then, it's sketchy (been there, done that). 4WD trounces through it with little effort. I will never go back to a 2WD.

Well, I grew up in Switzerland and had 2wd vehicles for most of the time (until I got a Sammy and then my Land Rovers). In my experience good tires and enough weight over the driven axles get you far. I actually mounted chains more often to get down from the mountains than for traction. But then, Switzerland is so densly populated that consequence of getting stuck and having to go for help is not that sever as there would have always been a house nearby to find help or shelter. Never had to though, normally was me helping others. I did get the Sammy really stuck, being way over confident thinking I'am having 4x4 and can do whatever (turned out the T-case was not working , probably my worst and most embarassing newby mistake.) Now living in NW Georgia, snow is not really my concern. :elkgrin:

 

[jh504]

I had a prerunner with the locker at one time. The locker made a huge difference, I never had it stuck and went most places I wanted to go. Having said that I would never go back to a prerunner. If you are serious about trails and offroading then you need 4x4 (Unless your into sand and speed!). It has been pointed out that prerunners hate mud, very true. They also hate ledges. One great advantage of 4x4 is when you come to a big rock or ledge you can use your front tires to climb up it, instead of trying to push your way up with your rear wheels. That was one thing that was always a problem for me. I was actually going to convert my prerunner to 4x4 like some others have done. It really isnt as big of an undertaking as it sounds. I just finished converting a 2 wheel drive XJ to 4x4 and it was not too bad. The Tacoma is easier than that.

 

[Digger Dave]

Any problem with the tranny overheating without the low range?

No, I've not run into any problems with ovewrheating the tranny. Even running around out here in AZ during the summer.

 

[T-hacha-P]

I've just started building up an 07 Prerunner with factory e-locker. Since I do most of my exploring in the relatively dry and snow-free parts of California, lack of 4wd has not been an issue yet. To quote Patrick McManus, "Four-wheel drive, like rubber rafts, will take you places you ought not go."

 

[The Swiss]

To quote Patrick McManus, "Four-wheel drive, like rubber rafts, will take you places you ought not go."

Love that quote; probably the strongest argument in favor of 4x4 yet